New dog

Thanks for the link sarahcyn!! I was thinking of suggesting that she consults her midwife?

Newnannie
A warning bell is ringing. Malmute no 1 or in fact any dog not used to children will find itself no longer the centre of attention when new baby arrives.Malmute no 2 plus malamute no 1 AND new baby ?the mere thought horrifies me.

Thank you Sussex girl!! I’ll have to bide my time, I’m hoping that She and SIL will hav discussed this soon. May I ask MaidMarion about your experience? If you don’t want to say though that’s fine xx

Another NO from here. I would suggest she has the baby first and discovers the reality of being a new mom. If she turns out to be supermom then good luck to her, but I predict she would be saying "Thank goodness I didn't get another dog!" I wish you luck in trying to make her see sense. My sympathy goes to you and her husband.

I was a dog owner, had been for years when I got my beautiful Irish setter, she was the so wonderful, sweet and friendly, the kids could pull her around and she never minded in the least, however, I then became pregnant with my third and the second my daughter was born, my dog became angry and jealous, no matter what we did, she just did not like having to share the attention, despite loving the children.
Dogs have their own personalitys as we know, however, you never ever know what a dog will be like with a baby, so this would be such a worry for me too. My own daughter decided not to get animals until the children were old enough to know how to treat them with love and respect...because you can know a dog for years, but youstill won't KNOW the dog....Maybe you could show your daughter this post.

Your instincts are spot on newnannie. I’m an antenatal teacher and most of my clients initially have no idea what having a new baby really means.
She should also check this:
www.dogstrust.org.uk/news-events/blog/be-dog-smart-preparing-my-dog-for-the-arrival-of-a-new-baby

I’d be worried enough about how the dog she already has is going to be with a new baby in the house, let alone another one. I had a 12 year old, a 9 year old and a toy poodle when my third was born. The dog was extremely jealous. The day I brought the baby home from the hospital, I found the dog had got into the pram.

Your Daughter will have no idea what impact a new baby will be on her life. She should at least wait and see how she copes with the new baby. You need to warn her of your concerns for you looking after 2 giant dogs and a baby. I love dogs, but would never bring a new dog into the home of a new baby.

No from me too. My son a very experienced dog owner had 2 German Shepherds and grown up children. One day while he was at work and his partner at home, the dogs who had grown up together, had a fight and one was so badly injured she had to be put down.

Why borrow trouble?

I know when I was expecting my first on I didn't realise how time consuming and exhausting having a new baby is.....too say i was totally in shock and exhausted was an understatement. I have four children and numbers 2, 3 and 4 just seemed to slot in and I coped really well. I think your daughter would really be best having the baby and seeing how she copes first. Maybe some of her friends who have already have their first babies could have a word....she is more likely to listen to them... xx

Dd and her fiancé have an older Malamute/husky - he came with the fiancé and is perfectly trained. Very good with (older) children.
I'd have been very wary of having a younger version around babies.
On a purely practical note - he sheds handfuls of soft fluffy hair all year round and it takes a heck of a lot of work to keep the floors reasonably clear. A big task for a new mum.
All that hair surely wouldn't be good for a new baby and it would double with a second one!!!

Hi Newnannie,
What a worry for you. Would it be easier if you broached the subject by asking her exactly why she wants another dog now...are there signs that her present dog actually does need another dog for company? Could she wait until the baby is born before committing, especially as her husband doesn’t want it(she may be too busy with the baby to want it then)? Or, could you confide in her husband and comment that you won’t feel happy babaysitting with two large dogs there...and could he talk with her? I think the subject needs discussing, but sensitively! Good luck!

Like everyone else I would say no! A friend got a puppy when pregnant and regretted it as soon as the baby arrived! I think it’s the mother instinct cutting in during pregnancy wanting to get something else in to nurture. But of course once the baby arrives she will find all her time and energy taken up with her or him.
Also these are huge dogs! My youngest DD and partner bought a black lab a few years ago and although she already had one DS he was 6.they now have a 8 month old and my DD complains about the extra work the dog brings! And he’s not a husky?

And it's another big fat NOOOOOO from me!!! Please show your daughter these posts!!!!!! I am speaking from experience... Again, NOOO!!

Hi Newnannie, another newbie here. My D got a puppy in March of last year against everything her dad & I said but not our problem, then in April she found out she was pregnant. Baby 5 weeks old & already she’s regretting the dog & we end up walking it. Certainly 2 dogs would be incredibly difficult as I’ve no idea how you push a pram & hold onto two dogs. Holding one is hard enough.

You'd have to ask the question which is,' if the malamute was with a malamute rescue organisation, would they allow your daughter to have the dog' and I don't think they would. I'd also worry that two malamutes would result in both dogs developing some kind of pack instinct; and I'm sure that if they're used for sledging there always has to be a pack leader. Having said that, they are beautiful dogs and I can understand your daughter being so fond of them.

I've been following this thread, but haven't contributed so far because I felt that it had all been said. I agree with everyone that your daughter is inviting disaster by adopting this second dog.
Newnannie when you 'bite the bullet' with your DD and SiL, why not show them this thread? Let them see that you are not just being over protective, but that there is a very strong consensus that they would be taking a huge risk.
Good luck.

Grannyactivist you are so right!!

Thank you ladies, you have without exception confirmed my feelings!! My daughter has had her Mally since he was a pup and he is exceptionally placid. I’m not quite so worried about him. I can walk him, and with his harness the pulling is controllable. I’m going to have to bite the bullet and have a chat both with my SIL and my DD. She is an extremely responsible and knowledgeable dog owner so I hope she will see sense!! Any further thoughts however will be gratefully received.

When my daughter was newly widowed just after having her first baby her decision making skills went out the window - and she put a hefty deposit on a puppy. When she very excitedly told me about the anticipated new addition I went ballistic encouraged her to think again and spelled out all the reasons why I thought it would be a bad idea. The following day she called up the pup's owner and withdrew her offer. She lost her deposit, but came to realise that she had also saved herself a lot of problems.

I think your daughter may have vastly underestimated how big a change a first baby creates, it may be helpful to simply suggest she delays making a decision until the baby is three months old - and if the dog's owners can't wait then they must make other arrangements. When we were visiting dog rescue centres last year we could have had our pick of half a dozen Mamalutes so she could easily get another if she really wants one. I suspect she just wants to do her friend a favour without having really thought through the difficulties.

I have three dogs but would be very wary of this situation. The original dog will be coming to terms with the new baby and to introduce another dog as well is a recipe for disaster.
They are beautiful dogs but very strong and need a lot of exercise, your daughter will not have the time to give them what they need.

No, I dont think it is a good idea. I have had animals (dogs and cats) all my life, and also when my children were tiny, Having said that, I would not have brought a new animal into the house when I was expecting. The dogs (and cats) were well trained and made to understand that they babies were my priority from the start. It worked well, and I had no problems with them, but I was experienced with my animals, and never left any of them unsupervised with the children.
On the other hand, we are speaking a working breed. these animals need a lot of exercise and are not the best sort of family dog. They are lovely animals, but need a lot of work.

A big fat No from me too for so many reasons I wouldn’t have one dog round a new baby let alone two and one that is new to the house and it’s inhabitants it’s a receipe for disaster and I would worry about the baby I would Also feel for the dogs what if they hate each other or are jealous or too playful they are big strong ole dogs that need a lot of attention
I would normally say don’t get involved but I think as the husband is sensible enough to not want a second one too you all need to point out the possible downfalls and open her eyes a bit

Oh no!! Surely that type of dog should have the attention it needs to keep it safe and able to be trusted. Its an accident (or worse) waiting to happen!

I would not have a dog in tne house where there was a new baby or any child for that matter.